Sifter closure



Dec. 14, 1943. R. NYDEN sIFTER cLos'uRE Filed July s, 1942 i J JNVENTOR. l BY; Fahr/Z /l/'gr/m we@ www MY Patented Deo. '14, 1943 anar il@ FFECE SIFTER CLOSURE Robert Nyden, Manhasset, N. Y., assgnor to F. N. Burt Company, Inc., Buialo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a container and closure and aims to provide a sifter closure adaptable for dispensing granular or powdered substances such as face and body powder, tooth powder, sugar, flour, salt, pepper, and other similar items.

Containers and closures of this type might generally be referred to as sifter containers and closures, and it is an aim of my invention to provide such a sitter container and closure which may readily be manufactured from paper, cardboard, chipboard, and plastic materials of various types. f

Heretofore, many ci the containers and closures adapted for the dispensing of materials such as are capable of being dispensed by the present invention, were manufactured from metal or other products, which products are not now readily available for these purposes. The structures of the prior art metal closures do not lend themselves to manufacture from paper, cardboard, chipboard, etc., and accordingly it is a major object of my invention to provide a new closure structure readily fabricated from paper and plastics.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a simplified closure unit which can be completed as a standard unit and applied inexpensively to various types and Styles of containers.

in providing the new container and closure of my invention, a major object has been the provision ci a structure of utmost simplicity capable or rapid manufacture with a minimum of expense, and utilizing readily available materials particularly non-metallic materials.

The structure by which these and other objects are obtained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a container and closure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2.-2 of Fig. l and showing the sifter closure in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the closure and a portion of the container so that the manner oi fabrication and assembly may be more readily visualized;

Fig. 4 is a cross section similar to that of Fig. 2 of a container and closure embodying my invention, and showing a modied form of container;

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified form of my invention and shows certain of the structure broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 6 is an exploded vertical central cross sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 5'.

The closure of my invention is of a construction readily adapted to fabrication from paper, cardboard, chipboard or plastic materials, and has been designed with a View to eicient manufacture from materials of this type. While this closure may be utilized with containers made of various substances such as metal, glass, or pottery, nevertheless, the structure is such that it is highly adaptable for use with containers made of a material similar to the closure, that is, paper, cardboard, etc.

Referring now to the drawing, Figs. l to 3 inclusive, it is noted that I provide a container Hl which may be of any configuration and whose top opening is provided with a securing edge formed by an annular iiange il provided with an offset shoulder I2. l

In order to provide va closure for this container, I form, preferably by die-cutting and punching from sheets of paper, etc., two Similar xed sifters I3 and l, each provided with openings respectively referred to as l5 and It, and which openings are capable of being placed in aligned position. While these stationary sifters may be out from the same thickness of material, it is not necessary that they be so. It is important to note, however, if sifter i3, which I shall refer to as the bottom sitter member,

I is to be used with a container having a depressed opening similar to that of container lo, then that sifter must be of a thickness greater than the height of the depending or depressed annular ange ll. This bottom sifteil member is, of course, of a conguration adapted to be placed and secured within the opening in the top of the container, and, while in the drawing it is shown in circular form, this shape may of course be varied depending upon the size and shape oi the container opening.

A manual rotatable sifter Il adapted for positioning between the xed sifters i3 and lll and which may be rotated to open or close the closure openings, is likewise fabricated from paper, cardboard, chipboard or other similar ma'- terial. Likewise, while its thickness may be of any size, if desired, it may be of the same thickness and of the same material as thatI forming the stationary sifters I3 and I i.

The rotatable Sifter il is preferably formed in circular form with either a scalloped or serrated edge l8 to providea roughened non-slipping finger grip. The diameter or other outside.

dimension is preferably greater than that of the top sifter member I 4 so that the hand of the user may readily be placed upon the serrated edges for manual rotation. This member is formed with spaced openings I9 so positioned that upon rotation they may be aligned with the complementary openings provided in sifter members lI3 and I4. In forming this rotating sifter, a centering and spacing disc 20 is cut from the center thereof, thus providing a circular open-V assembled and then applied tothe container in such completed form.

Following this latter assembly method, I'rlrst take bottom sifter ISand center thereon Y*the disc.

2o which is then secured thereto; b-vadhesive 0r other suitable means. Rotating sitter-I1 is placed over the centering disc 2U, the centering disc2il engaging the opening 2l', and thereupon the rotating disc is free to rotate about'the ,Cf-Hitering` disc. Upper sifter'l4 is then (superimposed,y upon the centering disc `2i) and, after holesor openings I6 areV placed in line with openings I5, secured thereto by suitable adhesive or Iother means.

With the parts now in position, itis quite clear that by a rotation of sifter I1, the holes I3 thereof may be 4made 'to fall in or out of alignment with the holes l-and I6 Vof thebottom and top;

sifter members. By this means there is provided as excellent closure for the dispensing of products such as tooth and talcum powder, sugar .or other similar substances.

Due tothe fact that centering disc 2B was c ut from the rotating sifter Iig-there has been no waste :materiaL and additionally, the rotating sitter I'Ldue to its being the same thickness as the disc 20,is given a close Vfit .between the upper and lower stationary' vsifters. frictionaldrag between the adjaeentsurfacesis such that a relatively tight` seal isprovided, the resiliency ofthe material, howevenallowing the parts to be 'readilymanipulated vinto open or closed position at thewill :of thefoperator.

Utilization of the disc actually cutroxn the rotating member is preferred in forming the pivotr This preference is caused `rby the fact that thereby a uniformity vof thickness :of the:V rotary member and its'pivot are assured and, thus thev `top and bottom sifter members whichare in turn secured to the pivot Ywill'be uniformly `closely positioned adjacent therotary member thus providing a seal of the openings butwithout binding movement of the parts. Y

The-important object is.to 'provide a close resilient seal on both the topand bottom surfaces of the rotating member. Thereforefif desired, and if vcare is exercised inproviding the proper thickness of .pivot,lthe pivot may rbe'ormed from other material than that -usedforthe rotatingmember. Likewise, and if desired, the :pivot may y also be formedfintegral-with .thetop or :bottoni sifters or as part of the topV .of the container.

In assembling theclosur'e'and the container; the method generally is .to secure'the' bottom sitter Accordingly, the

I3 in'position overftheopeningVproi/ided. `If the l container is one havinga depressed opening similar to that illustrated iii-Figs. 1, .2,` and3,"thenV bottom sifterfl 3 isplaced in position resting upon which are adapted to align with the openings 28 ofthe top sifter 29, as well as the openings 30 of the rotating sifter 3l. As shown in Fig. 4, all of the openings'are aligned and the container is in aposition 'todispense the product in it.

In the" type of structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

"a'singl'e sifter opening is provided in the closure.

This type of single opening is readily adaptable for Vuse'in the dispensing of tooth powder and other' similarsubstances requiring distribution over a `relatively vsmall area.

Except for the provision of the single holes 32, 33, and 36, respectively, in the bottom sifter 35, top sifter 36 and rotating sifter 31, the structure is essentially the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2, andv 3. Itisof course, to be observed that the bottom sifter '35 is of a thickness greater than the depth of the depressed annular flange 38, so that ythe rotating sifter 31 will be free to rotate on thextop surface ofthe bottom sitter 35. As shown, the upper sifter '36 is considerably thinner than the bottom sifter 35. While this structure permits the use of less stock material, it is to be understood that the thickness of the various parts may,within the limits of my invention, be varied.

While I'have, for purposes of illustration, described a sequence of assembly of parts, it is to be-understood thatthe sequence may be varied without departing from my invention.

Thus, itwill be'seen that the structure of my invention-,provides a dispensing device which is simple, rugged, inexpensive to manufacture, and readily adaptable to fabrication from non-metallic materials, more particularly those referred to above.

I claim:

1.-In a container closure, in combination, a plurality ofl spaced fixed sifter members havingaligned dispensing openings, a rotary sifter member positioned between said fixed sifter membersk and fhaving a mounting opening and also a dispensing 'opening positioned to be moved into or out of alignment with said rst mentioned aligned'dispensing'openings to open or close the same upon rotation of said rotary sitter member, and a mounting and spacing member having oppositesurfaces contacting respectively with the inner surfaces of said fixed sitter members soas to'hold the fixed sifter members in spacedrelation, said mounting and spacing member being attached to both of 4said xed sifter members to secure them together immovably in spaced relation, said mountingand spacing member lextending through said-mounting opening 'of said rotary sifter member 'to 'rotatably mount the same. f

2; In al containerclosure; -combination;v a

plurality -of spaced fixedl sifter members' having' aligned dispensing openings, a rotary sifter member positioned vbetween :said xed .sitter members fandf having 1a "mounting `Openingfand` lalso a dispensing opening, positionedV to be moved into yor `out'of` alignment wtnsaid--rst mentioned dispensing openings upon rotation of said rotary sifter member, and a mounting and spacing fiat disk having opposing surfaces juxtaposed respectively with the adjacent surfaces of said fixed sifter members and attached to said fixed members to secure them together immovably in spaced relation, said fiat disk extending through said mounting opening of said rotary sifter member to rotatably mount the same.

3. In a container closure, in combination, a plurality of spaced sifter members having aligned dispensing openings, a rotary sifter member positioned between said fixed sifter members and having a mounting opening and also a dispensing opening positioned to be moved into or out of alignment with said rst mentioned dispensing openings upon rotation of said rotary sifter member, and a mounting and spacing at disk having opposing surfaces juxtaposed respectively with the adjacent surfaces of said fixed sifter members and adhesively secured thereto to space said xed members and to secure them together` immovably in spaced relation, said iiat disk extending through said mounting opening of said rotary sifter member and being substantially the same thickness as the latter so as to rotatably mount the same and to provide for frictional controlling engagement of the rotary sifter member with the fixed sifter members.

4. In a container closure, in combination, a plurality of spaced sheet members one of which has a dispensingA opening, a movable closure member positioned between said spaced sheet members and being movable into opening and closing relation with said dispensing opening, said movable closure member having a mounting opening, and a mounting and spacing member having opposite surfaces respectively contacting with the inner surfaces of said spaced sheet members so as to support the latter in spaced relation and being attached to both of said sheet members to secure them together in spaced relation as a unit, said mounting and spacing member extending through said mounting opening of said movable closure member to movably mount the same for opening and closing movements.

5. In a container closure, in combination, a plurality of spaced sheet members one of which has a, dispensing opening, a movable closure member positioned between said spaced sheet members and being movable into opening and closing relation With said dispensing opening, said movable closure member having a mounting opening, and a mounting and spacing member positioned between said sheet members and having opposite surfaces respectively juxtaposed and adhesively attached to the adjacent surfaces of the spaced sheet members to space the latter and to secure them together in spaced relation as a unit, said mounting and spacing member extending through said mounting opening of said movable closure member to movably mount the same.

6. In a container closure, in combination, a container wall having an opening and a surrounding depressed lange forming a seat depressed below the outer surface of the Wall, a plurality of spaced sheet members one of which has a dispensing opening and is secured in said depressed seat, a movable closure member positioned between said spaced sheet members and being movable into opening and closing relation with said dispensing opening, said movable closure member having a mounting opening, and a mounting and spacing member positioned between said sheet members and attached thereto to space them and to secure them together in spaced relation as a unit, said mounting and spacing member extending through said mounting opening of said movable closure member to movably mount the same.

7. A method of making a container closure including: removing from a sheet member a disklike part so as to provide in the sheet member an opening substantially the size and shape of the removed part; placing said removed disk-like part in said opening in the sheet member and securing the disk-like part to overlying and underlying sheet closure members thus to movably mount the first mentioned sheet member between the overlying and underlying sheet members.

ROBERT NYDEN. 

